Division I Men

Rutgers Downs Marist to Match '09 Win Total

from press release

PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Junior attackman Kory
Kelly (Princeton, N.J.) of the Rutgers men’s lacrosse team
scored a career-high six goals to lead RU to a thrilling 10-9
victory over Marist Tuesday night at the RU Turf Field.

The Scarlet Knights have now won three straight games for the
first time since the middle of the 2006 season and their 4-1 record
is the best five-game start for the squad since it posted the same
mark in the 2004 season. The Marist victory’s is head coach
Jim Stagnitta’s 50th of his RU tenure.

The loss drops the Red Foxes record to 3-2. Rutgers is 2-0 all-time
against Marist.

With Rutgers holding a 6-3 halftime lead, Marist stole the momentum
in the third quarter by outscoring the Scarlet Knights 4-1 to tie
the contest at 7-7 heading into the final quarter. RU edged MC 3-2
in the fourth stanza to take the 10-9 win.

“I think we showed some character tonight and some guys
stepped up,” said Stagnitta. “It certainly wasn’t
our cleanest or best effort. I think we were a little tired.
Tuesday night games our tough. I was a little nervous about this
one because Marist is a pretty good team. In the third quarter we
had a couple penalties, pipes and the ball didn’t bounce our
way so all of a sudden our three-point lead was now tied.

“We got back up to a three-goal lead and they came back
again. We have to do a better job of holding on to the ball and
maintaining our lead down the stretch.”

For the second straight game, Pennington tied a career-best with
three assists. He leads the team with eight helpers this season.
Pennington gave the Scarlet Knights numerous offensive
opportunities by collecting five ground balls and winning seven of
his 13 face-offs.

Junior defender Brian Shemesh (Hillsborough, N.J.) and sophomore
defender Jacob Fradkin (Owings Mills, Md.) each had strong
performances as they caused five and three turnovers,
respectively.

Freshman goalie Rudy Butler (Belle Mead, N.J.) earned the
victory to improve his record to 4-1. The RU rookie snatched five
saves and five ground balls.

Junior attackman Corey Zindel and freshman attackman Connor Rice
shined for Marist as they combined for nine of the Red Foxes’
14 points. Zindel posted two goals and three assists and Rice
notched three goals and an assist.